Rearing queens starts with grafting eggs, which will become queen cells, that will later become our queens. We raise queens every year and use them in our operation. The first selection criteria is a very low mite infestation, monitored by taking a sample of bees and shaking the mites off of them. If a colony has no mites and continues to have no mites, those will be chosen as breeders. Other criteria after the mite selection pressure, is overall fitness and honey production. If the colony makes a large honey crop then they are healthy. Lastly, the colony must not be aggressive, but must be able to be worked without the traditional beekeeping gear (head nets and gloves).